Chorea and MS?

[vanvechten]

I am 51; have been experiencing chorea that is getting worse.  I also have burning/numbness/tingling sensations that are also worsening.  Many times I feel as though my legs and left arm "aren't there."  Two neurologists have ruled out MS or Parkinsons with only the following tests:  2 EEG's, one CAT scan and blood work.  I have a pacemaker, preventing me from having an MRI.  Latest neuro has recommended tetrabenazine for the chorea. I cuurently take Prozac and Provigil.   My question:  Is it reasonable to accept a "no MS" diagnosis with just the exam and above tests having been done? It's the chorea that makes them believe I don't fit the MS profile.  My sister has MS; two aunts have Parkinsons.  My family doctor wants more tests and a 3rd opinion.  I'm at my wits end.  Thank you for some advice.

[AMO]

hi vanchecten,

how ar eyou today?
well, do   you have more symptoms?
and ar eyou m or f?

i see an article annnd made reference   in sydenham form...
"Chorea is most common prior to puberty, and in females. It is occasionally seen in adult women but never in adult men. "

do you ha ve any ataxia along with the chorea?
I ha ve ha dboughts with choreathetosis movement.
I   have dx of ms and some type ooof cerebellar ataixa( not identified yet)
andare been folloowed by a movement diiiisorderr specialist?
So many      questions i know.
takke care, amo

[doni54]

Hi vanvechten, and welcome to the forum.

I agree with sho, you should get an LP and your family dr is right that you should keep pursuing your answers.

I look forward to getting to know you better, and I think you will find that the people here on this forum are the greatest.

Take care,
doni

[shoshin]

Welcome to the MS forum. I had to look up chorea so I'm afraid I really don't know anything about that. I did find an article at http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1149854-overview which does seem to say that MS can cause chorea. It also list a whole lot of other things that can cause chorea.

There's a lot of good info about diagnosing MS in the health pages (yellow icon in the upper right). You might look particularly at

Diagnosing MS - The McDonald Criteria (revised 2005)
MS Mimics - Part I
Common Blood Test You'll See During the Diagnosis Process
Diagnostic Guidelines Chart - The McDonald Criteria 2001 - 2005 - 2006 (proposed)...
Diagnosing MS - The McDonald Criteria (Revised 2005) CHART

I don't think the EEG or CAT scan would be relevant to anything unless they somehow showed that you had something else. They do have to do a lot of blood tests before they say you have MS because MS is a diagnosis of exclusion. They do the blood tests to check for other things that would explain your symptoms. There is no blood test that will say you *do* have MS.

MS can be a clinical diagnosis (no tests, just the exam), especially if you've had relapses and remissions. Other tests that are often done are evoked potentials (there are several kinds and it might depend on your symptoms which you should have) and an LP (lumbar puncture). I think your family doctor is right that you should keep checking into this because it does seem like they could check a few more things even without the MRI.

sho